The Five Step Program For Successful Working Motherhood.

Every mom – working or not – is looking for a few tips to make life go a little more smoothly. But busy moms just don’t have tons of down time to pour over a thousand-page shmoopy self-help manual. We’re not certified life coaches on this subject, but we’ve screwed up enough times and have our share of 20/20 hindsight, making us –we think – accidental pros who can help other moms avoid our fates and even, enjoy each day of modern motherhood. Here’s our abbreviated 5-step program for just that:

1. Get your childcare settled – and make sure you trust it. If your childcare isn’t right, nothing will be. You’ll be worried that the kids aren’t healthy or happy. There is no worse feeling in the world and please save yourself from the horror, and learn from our mistakes. If you don’t trust your childcare you’ll be miserable all the time, especially when at work; you’ll start thinking “I’m a bad mom AND (because I’m thinking about this all the time and not focused on my job) a bad employee.” DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN. Trust your gut and find childcare you love.

2. Take time for yourself. Working moms have a hard time thinking this is a good idea. We’re already thinking we don’t spend enough time with the kids, with the spouse, putting in the extra hours at work… The list goes on and on. But, you must remember to take a bit of time to enjoy yourself and take care of you. We don’t care how you like to kick up your heals and take a load off – yoga, American Idol on the couch with a glass of wine, reading a good book, People Magazine while locked in the coat closet – we don’t care! We just want you to enjoy it. And those several moments of enjoyment are going to help you be less stressed and a better mom.

3. Stop trying to be perfect. We’re going to tell you a little secret – you’re not perfect. And trying to be perfect is only going to cause you trouble, stress and angst. If you stop trying to be perfect you can let go of so much – constantly cleaning the house, cooking fabulous meals every night, over-committing yourself at work, and taking care of everything but your own mental health. Now, we’re not saying take it to extremes. We certainly don’t want to hear that your kids have eaten nothing but pop-tarts for the last six months. But, if you take it down a notch, you just might find that the kids are happy, your husband is happy, and you are happy.

my 5 yr old keeps showing his penis or is interested in seeing others, should i be concerned? i have had the privacy talk 3 times now!

smccobb04.14.10

I really loved that "get some help" didn't mean to hire some help - more help from the spouse would be great! I work at home, early hours so I can pick-up the kids from school - my "me time" is reading in the pick-up line at school and my early morning coffee before anyone else is awake. Great list!